Put Chimineas in Charge of Outdoor Entertaining

The chiminea (or chimenea) is a Mexican outdoor oven that’s become the multi-purpose fireplace of the well-equipped patio. It’s a terrific lifestyle accessory for families and outdoor entertaining. Here are just some of the reasons why:

The long chimney reduces smoke and smell, even in windy weather.

The enclosed design keeps rain and children’s fingers at bay.

The chiminea’s smart design increases airflow, making wood fires both easier to start and hotter burning.

But best of all are chimineas equipped with a grilling grate for cooking BBQ or wood-fired pizza. Delish!

Not all chimineas are recommended for cooking, but if the idea sounds appealing, look for one with a built-in grate. Oakland Living and Deeco are two brands we’d recommend. If you want the option of an indoor fire, a gel-fueled fireplace would provide a smokeless flame that’s safe for interiors.

Most of our outdoor fireplaces are less than 25 inches in width, which can surprise people who are accustomed to big campfires. But the chiminea’s secret is that it packs a lot of heating power into that bulbous little body. You’ll need to use smaller pieces of wood than you would in a fire pit, but it should also take less wood to get a fire going. The smaller size is also great for taking your fireplace with you, whether you’re headed to the beach, a pre-game tailgate party, or a weekend getaway in the woods.